The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-06-03
Bel Air, Nd, June 3, 1887.
BY GEO. W. ARCHER.

The provincial convention had adjourned OF
II Aug, 70, ito meet on the Sd Tuesday ia March
next" But the Council of Safety having beer
empowered to convene Ii earlier IL necessary
issued the following notice:
ITO ne Chairman Of the Committee Of HdIfOTo
County. SIR: "Be pleased to find the enclosed
notice to the Delegates OF your county.
Your most obd't sery't
Eleazer McComb."
John Love, Aquila Hall, Thomas Bond, Richard
Dallam, and Benjamin Rumsey-of whom the
last named was chosen at this session as mem
Der Of the Council of Safety, and in the follow
ing year as delegate to Congress in the room of
Robert Alexander, of Cecil, who had Joined the
ny tho Council Of Safety of Maryland, 2ist Oct.
1I75. Resotred, That there be meeting of the
Convention at the city of Annapolis on the 4th
Council enclose a copy of this Resolve to the
Delegates Of each county within this province
true coy e frS@ a NE cMI5ut ofi, >
The following has neither endorsement head
ing. signature nor date; but from internal evil
dcnco 1t seems TO have been drawn up during the
autumn of '15. And II so. 1t was no doubt adj
dressed to the Hartford delegates in the convcn-
ton called together by the documents last given,
and vas in answer TO a request for instructions
or advice how best to serve their constituents in
dealing with the questions then at issue. The
want of signatures, &c. would seem to indicate
that, long as 1t Is, IL may yet be only fragment.
"GaltIeHieH: 1t is with no small degree Of plea.
sure that we reflect upon the opportunity you
have afforded us OF giving you instructions rela-
tive to your procedure in the general convention
of this Province,-a conduct truly laudable and
moriting the highest appreciation of your con
stituents,-RrOunded, as we conceive, not only
on the soundest principles of reason but upon
the fundamental ones of the Constitution [of
Great Britain.I When we reflect upon such q
mode of conduct in our representatives, we can
not avoid observing that If the members of the
british 1.-The little was probably intended as
whitening sarcasml Senate had been actuatel by
the same spirit, the unhappy and unnatural diff
ferencos now subslsting between Great Britain
and her colonies had either never had an exist
long nF h.,
pic had been removed, their acts more popular
and better calculated for the promotion OF the
peace and welfare of the state, and their charac-
tiers less chargeable with the base vices of yenaI
ity and corruption. Confiding therefore in the
integrity and abilities of our representatives we
proceed to re- te with unreserved freedom our
grievances and point out such other matters as
we should choose to fall under the notice and
consideration OF the Convention. Among the
former we must rank that dsproporton obsery-
able In the wages of officers and private soldiers
The former we conceive abundantly too great at
this day OF public calamity and poverty, and cal
cuated to entail upon the Province load of
unnecessary debt, and since commissioned off,
GERS are, for the most part possessed OF valuable
estates and many of them willing to serve upon
terms more easy to the state meaning the body
polite, as Maryland was not under state" in
the other sense until Feb. I'll On the contrary,
those Of the common soldier are little more thnn
sufficient to subsist, and too scanty to influence
him by the views OF reward, to which most OF
them, by their needy circumstances are Obliged
TO attend; In snort, it is our opinion that the
pay of officers should be reduced more to level
with that Of privates, who are as much exposed
to danger and less capable of serving for small
pay. BY resolve of Convention, Aug "a -,
the militia and minute-men when in actual ser
yee were to be paid i'd month as follows: FIsM
0gfceS :-Colonel, 80; It. Colonel, ZIG; Surgeon
20; Major. tl2 Quarter master, and AdJutant,
siolO each; Asst ST. Surgeon, e7lo Company on
Sergeant, e. TO- Corporal, Drummer and Fifer
f2.5 each: Private, el.17.Gl
"2ly. For want of some mode of subsistence
great numbers Of our inhabitants are daily re.
moving from the Province, whereby it is much
weakened. a standing force or army we con-
ccive will be necessary in the spring for the pro-
lection OF this Province, which would find en-
poyment for those useful members of society
and prevent their further emigration.
'3ly. When we consider that great number of
the inhabitants of this Province plead conscien
tious objections to bearing ofarms, and that they
VIII Notwithstanding share all the advantages
derivable from the activity and vigorous OPPOSE
ton OF Others we cannot help praying that the
terms OF exemption may be equal to the terms
OF service; or as equal as may be,-for VIC con-
ceye IL impossible for them to furnish an equy-
alent to the hazard of life and fortune which
others run. We would not DO understood to
mean compulsion Of their conscences, but as
paid what they call tribute 10 Caesar, we conceive
our Convention to be their ruler with as much
propriety as Caesar was that Of his tributaries.
"4ly. We should be glad that our Convention
would consider of some mode whereby the mill
tia companies may be armed, or encouraged to
arm themselves-they being at this time for the
most part in a defenceless state, both from the
badness tof armsl and the want of them,-their
circumstances Tor the most part not permitting
them to provide better unless encouraged by
Government.
'5ly. We request that the individuals of every
battalion when formed may have the nomination
OF their field officers.
"6ly. We recommend to the notice of the Con.
ventlon some mode whereby those who refuse
to enroll themselves may be compelled so to do:
we mean those who do not plead religious scru-
pies; and are sorry to observe that their numbers
are great
Fly. We request our representatives to obtain,
II possible, a resolve that the monies now struck
and all that hereafter may be [The Convention
Mt Its session of July 10 ordered that "for the
defence of this Province bills of credit to the
all convenient speed"l SHALL when struck be as
sessed upon the estates of the inhabltants-the
full tax being judged unequal.
Sly. We request that tenants If willing to give
security shall not be disturbed in this time of
public calamity" Inter anna silent kges:' which,
freely translated, signifies that when Mars leads
the orchestra, lawyers play second-fddlc.l